5502.22
Emergency management agency.

(A)
There is
hereby established within the department of public safety an emergency
management agency, which shall be governed under rules adopted by the director
of public safety under section
5502.25 of the Revised Code. The
director, with the concurrence of the governor, shall appoint an executive
director, who shall be head of the emergency management agency. The executive
director may appoint a chief executive assistant, executive assistants, and
administrative and technical personnel within that agency as may be necessary
to plan, organize, and maintain emergency management adequate to the needs of
the state. The executive director shall coordinate all activities of all
agencies for emergency management within the state, shall maintain liaison with
similar agencies of other states and of the federal government, shall cooperate
with those agencies subject to the approval of the governor, and shall develop
a statewide emergency operations plan that shall meet any applicable federal
requirements for such plans. The executive director shall have such additional
authority, duties, and responsibilities as are prescribed by the governor and
the director or provided by law in all matters relating to emergency management
that may be reflected in other sections of the Revised Code. The executive
director shall advise the governor and director on matters pertaining to
emergency management on a regular basis.

Whenever the disaster services agency or director is referred
to or designated in any statute, rule, contract, or other document, the
reference or designation shall be deemed to refer to the emergency management
agency or executive director, as the case may be.

(B)
For the purposes of emergency management,
the executive director, with the approval of the director, may participate in
federal programs, accept grants from, and enter into cooperative agreements or
contractual arrangements with any federal, state, or local department, agency,
or subdivision thereof, or any other person or body politic. Whenever the
duties of the emergency management agency overlap with rights or duties of
other federal, state, or local departments, agencies, subdivisions, or
officials, or private agencies, the executive director shall cooperate with,
and not infringe upon the rights and duties of, the other public or private
entities.

Funds made available by the United States for the use of the
emergency management agency shall be expended by that agency only for the
purposes for which the funds were appropriated. In accepting federal funds, the
emergency management agency shall abide by the terms and conditions of the
grant, cooperative agreement, or contractual arrangement and shall expend the
funds in accordance with the laws and regulations of the United States.